Love's Vengeance by Dana Roquet Read Free Book Online

today.”
    “Of course I will dear.” Bridgett affirmed happily.
    “Francois—have the stable hands given you any insight as to what happened? Why the accident occurred?”
    “Little new information Desiree.” He replied reluctantly. This was the first she had broached the subject of the accident and he knitted his brow with concern, fearful her mood might again swing to despair, “Only the original findings, that the axle was faulty and the sharp turn caused it to give.”
    “I see—well I suppose that is the only conclusion.” Desiree agreed in a small voice, allowing the painful subject to drop as she fought, again, against her tears. The pain of mourning seemed, literally, to come in waves. She felt strong and sure of herself, then weak and forlorn. What a very odd sensation, she thought in passing.
    Within a few minutes, Madeleine Roche’ appeared at the door of the dining room, “Child, the maid has drawn your water. You best hurry before it cools.”
    Excusing herself from the table, Desiree started up the Roche’s long winding grand staircase, which she had always admired. She had, many times as a child, traced the ornate scrolls and flowers that decorated the fine banisters, with her fingers, until she could duplicate the pattern on parchment. She often wrote silly notes to her father, after mastering the art of writing and the flowers always embellished the edge of the missives.
    As she reached the top of the flight, she realized that she had allowed another painful memory to slip into her head, putting a damper on her already precarious mood. It seemed everything she thought or saw, somehow intertwined with her parents. She had been unaware what a huge part they played in her life, until now and her tears flowed again, unbidden.
    Mounting the stairs behind Desiree, Bridgett noticed the slowing of her gait and the slight droop of her delicate shoulders and surmised that her parents must be once more upon her mind. Determined to restore Desiree’s good mood, she took her hand, “I had a few of your things sent over, just in the event we stayed on. Let's pick out something for you to wear today, shall we?” she asked brightly.
     
    ***
     
    With clips protruding from her mouth, Bridgett studied the lovely girl reflected in the mirror before her. Desiree was gazing at her own image, with her hand resting casually beneath her chin. Bridgett mused how completely unaware of her own beauty Desiree seemed to be. She was void of vain pride, though she could easily have been ruled by it were she another type of person. Bridgett knew of women with much less beauty than Desiree possessed, completely taken with themselves and their great gifts, but Desiree exhibited none of those nasty traits.
    Her hair was as black as night and hung in glistening waves to her waist. Her eyes, the most beautiful shade of blue, were accented by black finely arched brows and thick sooty lashes. High cheekbones, a delicately shaped classic nose, full lips, a creamy complexion—all any woman could wish for. Yet this all went completely unknown to Desiree. She had even confessed to Bridgett once that she had never considered herself exceptionally pretty. She failed to see what the rest of the world could not miss.
    Bridgett had watched young men fall all over themselves to catch a glimpse of her. At church services or other gatherings, a throng of young men were always in attendance at Desiree’s side, which left many of the less comely maidens of Rouen, glaring heatedly at her and her entourage of admirers. To Desiree it was simply what she had become accustomed to and she didn't contribute the occurrence to herself at all.
    An impatient sigh from Desiree brought Bridgett’s mind back to the task at hand and she quickly finished, releasing her charge to be about her bath. Desiree rose, crossing to the brass tub and after testing the temperature with her hand, disrobed, leaving her clothes in a heap. She slid into the warm fragrant